Tempered glass is one of two kinds of safety glass regularly used when regular glass could pose a potential danger. Tempered glass is manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, making it tougher than normal glass.
The brittle nature of tempered glass causes it to shatter into small oval-shaped pebbles when broken. This eliminates the danger of sharp edges. Due to this property, along with its strength, tempered glass is often referred to as safety glass. The thermal process that cures tempered glass also makes it heat resistant.
Tempered glass is 4-5 times tougher than regular glass and does not break into sharp shards when it fails. It is ideal for public buildings and private companies that have lots of visitors and could be held liable for damages if a glass pane breaks in their building and someone is injured. That is also true for industrial companies where workers depend on safety glass to protect them from heat and flying objects on the job. It is used in hockey rinks to protect fans from flying pucks, and it can withstand a direct hit from a 100 mph slap shot. It won't crack and injure fans or players that are checked into the boards, even when it breaks.
